Southern California. Im in my late 50's want to learn to windsurf. I'm 225 lbs. - very athletic. Not looking to get airborn in the ocean (but might) in fact I might be sailing mostly in a harbor in winds from 5-15 knots, no waves. X-Surfer, X-Waterskier, Snow skier, Sailer... I know nothing about the sport - at all!! Ive heard: The newer wider lighter boards are much easier to learn on/ sail; I've been told 225 liter board X 300cm long X 82cm wide...? Dont want to buy a board then outgrow it in a few months. Seems all thats on Craigslist is really old stuff, that said I dont want (cant) spend $2-3,000. to get new equipment - unless I really sacrifice. What to buy, where to buy it. PLEASE, ANYTHING! Thanks, Michael

225 is a bit big, Id suggest renting a board that size for the first few times until you feel comfortable, then getting something closer to 170, that should see you through most of the milestones and still be useful in those light winds for a long time.

Southern California. Im in my late 50's want to learn to windsurf. I'm 225 lbs. - very athletic. Not looking to get airborn in the ocean (but might) in fact I might be sailing mostly in a harbor in winds from 5-15 knots, no waves. X-Surfer, X-Waterskier, Snow skier, Sailer... I know nothing about the sport - at all!! Ive heard: The newer wider lighter boards are much easier to learn on/ sail; I've been told 225 liter board X 300cm long X 82cm wide...? Dont want to buy a board then outgrow it in a few months. Seems all thats on Craigslist is really old stuff, that said I dont want (cant) spend $2-3,000. to get new equipment - unless I really sacrifice. What to buy, where to buy it. PLEASE, ANYTHING! Thanks, Michael

I can't think of anything that is 225liters except the RS:X which is an expensive formula board. Try renting a board from captain kirks or something and see if whatever liters it is works. DON'T buy old boards imho(early 90s stuff).

Same size and ability as you in late 40's, this is the hardest sport I have ever tried to learn (most people will tell you this) at 225lbs your initial learning curve will be steeper but if you progress your weight will help you hold down bigger sails and go faster.
Forget about windsurfing under 12 knots unless just beginning, it's too much work to hold up the sail and boom, it's more fun to go swimming under 12 knots.
At a max wind speed of 15 knots as you describe you will be much better off with a longboard.
I have come to learn that windsurfing is a high wind near shore activity.
I don't want to say this but the late 50's is going to be very difficult to become proficient at this sport, tremendous strains are put upon the shoulder joints and muscles.
Yeah there are plenty of windsurfers in their late 50's but they started 20 or 30 years ago or more and have developed those particular muscles and joints.
Have a board repair guy put a mast track on a SUP for $100 and you are in business for under 15 knots.
We could help you find a mast sail boom, mast base for a couple of hundred bucks, this will get you on the water for cheap to help decide if you want to continue.
I am not a quitter and if I were a normal person I would have given this up a while ago, just understand what you are getting yourself into.

I feel OK in giving my two cents because I was recently a beginner as well.
If you are trying to do this on a budget as I was you will need to invest heavily in books and videos as lessons will just be too expensive.
There will be outdated books at the public library that will give you the basics, and free youtube videos, then if you progress you can drop $50 on a Guy Cribb DVD.
Are you a quitter? up for a challenge?

Windsurfing is a great sport that you will definitely still enjoy into the ages where your peers are just playing golf or shuffleboard. Good choice.

The whole "growing out of your first board" thing really isn't such a problem, in my opinion. That's because the big 200+ liter longboard that you get as your first board will always be the board you'll want for 5 - 15 mph- even if you're an expert -because small boards just don't work in light wind. If you get the right kind of big board it will work pretty well in strong winds, too, and even in waves.

A good, reasonably priced 200+ liter board that's not too old would be a Kona ONE or a Kona Mahalo. Everyone starts their very first lesson with a super small sail between 3 and 5 meters squared, but the first sail that you actually buy for yourself can be bigger, like 6.5 - 7.5 msq.

Good luck.

-James

PS- Unless you're primarily interested in SUP and only partially interested in windsurfing I would avoid most "windsurfable" SUP boards. Though they're nice and stable they don't sail into the wind very well and they can't plane so they're always slow. Exocet Windsup 11'8" is an exception to that, though._________________James' Blog: Windsurfing Equipment Size Calculator
http://jimbodouglass.blogspot.com/2010/11/updated-windsurf-calculator-online.html

too bad you are not in the northeast, I have an Exocet Pacer 300 (80cmx225lx300cm) with c/b that would be great for you to learn on and then use for light wind planing ability. oh well.

don't worry about your age. I started 5 years ago at 51 and am not esp. athletic. It's a great sport, you will have a TON of fun. I am an ex-boat sailor and I think it's gives one an advantage in knowing about the wind.

Get some professional instruction to learn the correct methods so you don't go down dead ends and have to re-learn stuff. Also, doing it the "right" way will decrease strain on your body.

Have a great time and good luck. There is no substitute for TOW though.

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